TCS400

CADalyst, April, 2004

TCS400

Oce

www.oceusa.com

Star rating: 5 stars out of 5

Price: $24,145; $38,140 with printer

The Oce TCS400 wide-format scanner distinguishes itself from the others in this roundup in several ways. First, it's significantly more expensive at $38,140, although that also includes a printer, a dedicated controller computer system with 512MB memory and 80GB of hard disk space, and an LCD flat-panel monitor. It also includes an excellent, relatively sizable, and easy-to-read LCD control panel to the right of the TCS400. Embedded Windows XP provides access to the scanner functions. If you already own the printer, you can pick up the scanner with all its parts for $24,145.

The Oce TCS400 incorporates three digital cameras--the center one is stationary and the other two self-adjust. Despite its complexity, it took only about 10 minutes to calibrate. I tested the Oce TCS400 in a full-blown network setup, with a large-format Oce plotter attached. After the color scans and timing tests were complete, the originating 24-bit color file (scanned at our usual 400dpi) was fed to the plotter for comparison purposes. The color fidelity and quality were outstanding. No raster-to-vector component is included with the base scanning software. As is the case with most wide-format scanners, you must use third-party raster-to-vector software if your desired result is a vector file. Timing results were slower than expected, but still fast: 40 seconds for monochrome and 41 seconds for color.

Oce's scanning software will scan to ten destinations, such as other workstations on the network, to the Web via an FTP site, and to off-site locations. Scanning across the network was both fast and easy. Scanning features include manual and automatic size detection of the original, automatic deskewing, a programmable default setting, auto-crop, preprogramming of the next scan while the current scan is in progress, a scale-while-scanning option (10-1,000%), and automatic background compensation that you can turn on or off.

Evaluating the Oce TCS400 scanner for the report card on p. 14 was difficult. I struggled with whether to give extra credit for the ease of use that results in saved hours and in general productivity gains. I weighed this against the overall cost and the slightly slower speed when compared with some of the other scanners reviewed here. I finally decided that the pluses and negatives balance one another out, so I opted not to assign extra credit but gave it an A for ease of use. If I were purchasing a wide-format scanner and my budget could stretch to accommodate it, this scanner would be among those receiving serious consideration.

This sophisticated and well-designed scanner incorporates many state-of-the-art features. The Oce TCS400 is as easy to use as pressing a button--a prime example of technology helping you work faster and easier. Though it's expensive, the features make this tool fast and easy to operate, potentially saving significant time and maximizing the productivity of the operator. Highly Recommended.

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